Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus

Unabridged Audiobook

Publisher: Random House (Audio)

Date: July 2000

Duration: 9 hours 16 minutes

Summary:

From the bestselling author of How the Irish Saved Civilization and The Gifts of the Jews, his most compelling historical narrative yet.

How did an obscure rabbi from a backwater of the Roman Empire come to be the central figure in Western Civilization? Did his influence in fact change the world? These are the questions Thomas Cahill addresses in his subtle and engaging investigation into the life and times of Jesus.

Cahill shows us Jesus from his birth to his execution through the eyes of those who knew him and in the context of his time—a time when the Jews were struggling to maintain their beliefs under overlords who imposed their worldview on their subjects. Here is Jesus the loving friend, itinerate preacher, and quiet revolutionary, whose words and actions inspired his followers to journey throughout the Roman world and speak the truth he instilled—in the face of the greatest defeat: Jesus' crucifixion as a common criminal. Daring, provocative, and stunningly original, Cahill's interpretation will both delight and surprise.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres:

Kenneth B

Beginning with Alexander the Great, the author first surveys the centuries immediately preceding Jesus. The main part of the book is a rather good commentary on the New Testament. Cahill then discusses whether Jesus has had a significant positive impact on our world. This is a very different question from whether the Church has had a positive impact. In short, Jesus has made a great difference; but it’s due to a faithful minority that has always existed within the Church, while the larger Church has often done more harm than good. Trying to explain this distinction makes the conclusion a bit confusing, which is why I rate the book four stars rather than five.